Speed control device



Nov. 17, 1959 R. J. BIGGS ETAL SPEED CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1957 mvsmons Raw/dimes "0 Jo/ /v M. Tue/r52 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 SPEED CQNTROL DEVICE Ralph J. Biggs, Boston, and John M. Tucker, Dorchester, Mass.

Application January '14, 1957, Serial No. 634,054 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-526) This invention relates to a speed control device for motor vehicles.

.An object of this invention is to provide a means in association with the accelerator pedal and operating mechanism for the fuel feeding system of the vehicle so that after a predetermined speed has been reached it will not be possible to further open thethrottle valve in said feeding system. Means are provided on the dashboard or dash-panel of the vehicle adjacent to the position of the operator to control the opening of the throttle valve. If, for instance, the operator does not want to exceed a speed of let us say forty miles per hour, by certain manipulations of a selector switch the throttle valve is prevented from opening beyond a position corresponding to that speed.

These objects and others will be more apparent from a description of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sketch showing in plan view the operating mechanism in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a view looking axially for the stop mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the stop mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the selector switch constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring now to Figures 1-4 inclusive, the accelerator pedal is depressed in the usual manner to operate the throttle valve in the fuel feeding system (not shown). The depression of the accelerator pedal 10 imparts movement to the connecting rod 11. This connecting rod 11 is part of the operating mechanism for the throttle valve. This mechanism includes a link 12 which is pivotally mounted at 13 to some part of the chassis of the automobile and as particularly shown here to the underside of the floor board 14 by a bracket 15. Depression of the pedal 10 causes the link 12 to rotate about point 13 to a position such as is shown in the dotted lines. Movement of the link 12 moves the accelerating rod 16 to operate the throttle valve. One end of the rod 16 is connected to the link 12 by virtue of some means such as the nut and bolt assembly indicated at 17., Also, connected to the link 12 is a stop rod 18. The link 12 provides a lostmotion connection with the rod 18 so that the movement of the rod 18 in the bracket 19 is substantially in a straight line. The bracket 19 provides a bearing surface through which the rod 18 extends.

Numeral 20 indicates the adjustable stop mechanism. The stop rod 18 is capable of advancing into the stop mechanism a varying amount or a varying depth in accordance with the position of the stop mechanism. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the stop mechanism is constructed of a series of cascaded steps all arranged around in a helix about a central axis. These steps are indicated by numerals 21, 22 and 23, but of course, there are a number of steps equal to the speed gradients desired. Here it can be seen that the desired speeds differ by 10 miles per hour. The axis of these cascaded steps run parallel to the movement of operating mechanism. This is to permit the rod 18 to advance into the stop mechanism in a direction parallel to the movement of the accelerator rod 16 and be confronted by a varying stop surface.

Referring to Figure 4, it can be seen that a selector switch is available on the dashboard of the vehicle. This selector switch is indicated by numeral 24. The handle 25 may be rotated to bring the pointer opposite the desired speed indicated on the dial of the selector switch. The calibration of this switch is done prior to final setting of the pointer. The rotation of the handle causes rotation of an operating wire indicated at 26 which is encased in a metal cable 27. The opposite end of this control wire is operatively connected to the stop mechanism, as particularly shown in Figure 3. Rotation of this wire by virtue of the handle 25 on the selector switch 24 causes the cascaded steps to rotate about the central axis of the stop mechanism. This means that, for instance, when the pointer is opposite 40 miles per hour on the selector switch that the step corresponding to 40 miles per hour confronts or is in the path of movement of the stop rod 18. Because of this when the accelerator pedal 10 is depressed and the stop rod 18 advances into the control mechanism it can only go so far as is permitted by the depth of the step corresponding to 40 miles per hour. The switch may be locked by some means as shown at 28. The stop mechanism includes a housing 29 which is mounted to a shaft 30. The shaft 30 is mounted at one end in the bracket 3-1 and is capable of rotation in some sort of a bearing provided by the bracket 31 as indicated as 32. Brackets 19 and 31 are mounted to the chassis at some place under the hood of the car. The wire 21 makes connection with the shaft 31) at the right hand end as shown in Figure 3. The various steps are mounted to this shaft 30.

What has been shown and illustrated is one species of "the present invention. Other species obvious to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein are contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A speed control device for a motor vehicle having a throttle valve controlling the admission of fuel to the engine, an accelerator pedal and an operating mechanism for transmitting movement from said pedal to said valve, said device comprising a stop rod carried by said operating mechanism and movable therewith, an adjustable stop member including a plurality of stop surfaces arranged in cascaded steps which form a helix along a central axis extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said stop rod to provide a variable depth stop surface in the path of said stop rod whereby movement of said mechanism carries said rod into contact with a selected step to prevent further movement of said pedal, said operating mechanism including a connecting rod having one end connected to said pedal, a lever arm having one end movably mounted to the vehicle, the other end of said connecting rod being connected to said lever arm, said stop rod having one end connected to said lever arm and its other end extending toward said stop member.

2. A speed control device for a motor vehicle wherein said vehicle is provided with a throttle valve controlling the admission of fuel to the engine, an accelerator pedal and an operating mechanism for transmitting movement from said pedal to said valve, said device comprising an adjustable stop mechanism including a shaft, an inner stepped stop member rigidly mounted on said shaft and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of cascaded steps formed in said stop member and having radial faces displaced circumferentially and axially from one another to form a helix in said stop member, an outer hollow cylindrical housing rigidly mounted on said vehicle, said stop member being mounted within said housing for rotation relative thereto; a stop rod carried by said operating mechanism and movable therewith, said stop rod extending parallel to said shaft and into said housing to engage a selected one of said steps as said operating mechanism is moved by said accelerator pedal, and selecting means connected to said shaft for rotating said stop member relative to said housing and stop rod to present the radial face of a selected step for engagement with the end of said stop rod as it moves into said housing, thereby preventing further movement of said pedal.

3. A speed control device for a motor vehicle wherein said vehicle is provided with a throttle valve controlling the admission of fuel tothe engine, an accelerator pedal and an operating mechanism for transmitting movement from said pedal to said valve, said device comprising a stop rod carried by said operating mechanism and movable therewith, an adjustable stop mechanism including a shaft, a stepped stop member rigidly fixed to said shaft, said stop member including a plurality of stop surfaces atranged in cascaded steps which form a helix along a central axis extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said stop rod to provide a variable depth stop surface in the path of said stop rod whereby movement of said mechanism carries said rod into contact with a selected step to prevent further movement of said pedal, and selecting means connected to said shaft for rotating said stop member about said axis relative to said stop rod to present the stop surface of a selected step for engagement with the end of said stop rod so that engagement of said selected step and said stop rod prevents further movement of said stop rod and said pedal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,001,572 Haren et al. May 14, 1935 2,123,978 Wagner July 19, 1938 2,230,527 Crawford et al. Feb. 4, 1941 2,506,940 Ryder May '9, 1950 2,776,581 Hamlin Ian. 8, 1957 2,832,232 Dow Apr. 29, 1958 

